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Lucy Stock says the centuries-old remains of Agnès Sorel helped reveal a deadly dose of mercury - thanks to hardened tartar on her teeth. Today, that same dental build-up is giving scientists remarkable clues about both history and oral health
In the 1400s, the pale-skinned beauty Agnès Sorel caught the eye of King Charles VII of France. Agnès assumed the role of the King’s mistress and bore four children to him.
This upset the machinations of the French court to such a degree that it was evident almost 500 years later when her body was exhumed and examined. It was discovered, through analysis of her hair and the tartar around her lower teeth, that she had a lethal dose of mercury in her body, between 10,000 and a 100,000 times higher than normal.
The hard tartar around teeth, also known as calculus, is a solid mass of bacteria, food, and minerals (such as calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium). This stubborn body substance, once seen as a waste product, endures around teeth for so long after death that archaeologists now use it to determine what the owner ate and to gain hints about how they lived.
“It’s not fair; how can I stop the build-up?” patients decry. Since the main personnel responsible for making the calculus are bacteria, adopting a meticulous home-cleaning routine with a zero-plaque approach is wise. Arm yourself with a good electric toothbrush, holding it over the gum margin on each tooth, and clean between the teeth with sticks, mini-brushes or floss.
Toothpastes containing pyrophosphates (such as Crest Pro-Health Advanced, Colgate Total and Sensodyne ProNamel), have been shown to reduce calculus deposits by 25%-45%.
Tobacco smoking increases saliva’s calcium density, which contributes to calculus build-up, and diets high in carbohydrates promote the growth of calculus-forming bacteria.
Try maintaining a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids, rich in fibre and vitamins (C, D and K2) and low in sugar. Remember, it’s more important to reduce how often you consume sugar than how much.
The rumour mill is still oscillating around Agnès as to whether she was deliberately poisoned by one of her adversaries, willingly ingested mercury to cure her of agonising intestinal worms or was indeed slathering on mercury-laden cosmetics to sustain her porcelain splendour – it’s doubtful that we will ever know for sure.
